With its nearest cousins being the chimpanzee and the human being (almost 99 percent identical DNA), the gorilla is the largest primate on the planet. There are two main species of gorilla: Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei. They belong, like human beings to the family of Hominidae. The term gorilla comes from the Greek and means "tribe of hairy women."

Gorillas are ground dwelling herbivorves (plant eaters) and live in the forests of Africa. Adaptable creatures, the gorilla inhabits both low land swamp areas as well as high altitude mountains. They walk on their knuckles and can be as tall as 5 foot 9 inches in height.  A male gorilla can weigh just under 500 pounds with the average female gorilla weighing about half that size.

Gorillas live in groups consisting of woman and children, silverbacks and blackbacks. The silver back is a male gorilla of 12 years of age or older. A Blackback gorilla is a male gorilla under the age of 11. Silverbacks lead the groups, blackbacks provide backup and female gorilla produce and rear the young. A group of gorillas can contain as many as 30 individuals.

Dining on fruit, leaves and plant shoots, gorillas sometimes eat small insects despite being classed as herbivores. Eating makes up a large portion of a gorilla's day as it takes a lot of food to sustain their large mass.

Considered extremely intelligent animals, gorillas can be taught sign language in captivity and use tools in the wild. Despite their size and intelligence, gorillas are an endangered species. Their numbers suffer from hunting and the destruction of their natural habitats.